THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD 11) is on “red alert” as the low pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Mindanao is expected to develop into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.
At 10 a.m. Sunday, December 31, the LPA was estimated based on all available data at 910 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
The weather advisory #1 of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that it may cross Mindanao from January 1 to 2 and will bring moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides especially in low-lying areas.
Likewise, cloudy skies with occasional to frequent rains are expected over Eastern Visayas caused by the southward migration of the tail-end of a cold front.
The state weather bureau advised the cancellation of sea trips should this weather system develop into a tropical depression along the eastern seaboard of Mindanao that include the Surigao provinces, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Island, and Siargao and the eastern seaboard of Leyte provinces as a safety measure.
OCD 11 regional director Leoncio Cirunay said they expect the weather anomaly to hit land between January 1-2, 2018.
“We are on red alert level status and continue active monitoring and reporting system,” he said.
They have activated all the emergency operations centers and the incident management teams region wide is already on standby ready to respond in case of call of emergencies.
Just a week ago, Tropical Storm Vinta hit Mindanao, including Davao City. It triggered widespread flooding in areas near rivers which also prompted the city government to declare state of calamity due to the urgent need “to revitalize the economic stability and to give much needed help to the people” affected by Vinta.
“Severe Tropical Storm Vinta that hit Davao City last December 22 gravely affected a large number of families and cause severe damage on agriculture and government infrastructure in the different barangays of the city, which necessities relief operations, reconstruction, rehabilitation and provision of basic services,” the resolution read. (Juliet Revita)